The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity football team picked up a big win on the road Friday night, as they traveled to Brownfield, taking down the Cubs, 49-13.
With the win, the Wildcats close out the pre-district schedule with a mark of 4-1.
The Wildcats totaled 400 yards of offense, including 272 rushing yards and 128 passing yards.
The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out on the Cubs’ opening possession, giving their offense the ball at their own 43-yard line after the punt by Q Busby with 10:38 to play in the opening quarter.
On first down, Chip Green dropped back and heaved a deep pass to his right connecting with Omar Martinez for a huge gain, down to the Brownfield 26-yard line. With a fresh set of downs, Green hit MJ Randle with back-toback passes to move the chains again for the Wildcats, taking the ball down to the 15-yard line.
On first down, Green called his own number, picking up two yards, and he handed it off to Major McNeese on second down, as he took it down to the Cubs’ nine-yard line. McNeese would punch it in for the nine-yard score on the next play, making the score, 7-0, after the PAT by Angel Salazar, with 9:12 remaining in the opening quarter.
Brownfield tried a 32-yard field goal with 38 seconds to play in the quarter, but the kick by Landon Garcia was no good. Littlefield took over at their own 17-yard line, but two plays into the drive, a pass by Green was caught by Bradyn Redman, but he had the ball knocked out and it was recovered by the Cubs with 16 seconds to play in the first.
Izzy Morin took a run up the middle on first down for the Cubs to close out the first quarter and two plays into the second quarter, Jesus Martinez hit Busby on a 14yard slant for the touchdown. The two-point conversion try was picked off in the endzone by Randle, leaving the score, 7-6, with 11:16 to play in the first half.
After a punt from each team, Littlefield took over at the Brownfield 40-yard line. McNeese picked up two yards on a run up the middle on first down and Green’s pass on second down fell incomplete looking for Josiah Garcia.
On third and eight, Green connected with Randle for a few yards, bringing up a fourth and five from the Cubs’ 35-yard line. Littlefield again elected to go for it, as Green dropped back and found Omar Martinez for the 35-yard touchdown pass with 7:01 to play in the half. The PAT by Salazar was good, making the score, 14-6.
Littlefield’s defense forced another three-and-out, as the Busby punted the ball away with 5:26 to play in the second quarter. The ball was fielded by Randle, who returned it down to the Cubs’ 45yard line, where the offense would take over for their next drive.
After a 10-yard penalty on first down, Green dropped back on second down and hit Randle for a first down, taking the ball down to the Cubs’ 32-yard line. With a fresh set of downs, Green hit Omar Martinez on a quick pass for two yards, but on the next play, Sam Hill broke loose up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown run with 4:29 to play in the half. The PAT by Salazar was good, making the score, 21-6.
Brownfield started their next drive at their own 20-yard line, and was able to pick up two first downs, but the drive, again, ended in a punt with just over three minutes to play in the half.
Littlefield got the ball back at their own 34-yard line, as Green kept it himself on first down taking it around the right side before stepping out of bounds. A late hit penalty was assessed to the Cubs, taking he ball all the way down to the Brownfield 39- yard line. McNeese carried the ball on first down, moving the chains once more for the Wildcats, as he took the ball down to the 22-yard line and Green picked up six yards on the quarterback keeper on the next play to make it second and four from the 16-yard line. Green would connect with Randle over the middle for the score, which was followed with the PAT by Salazar, making the score, 28-6, with just over two minutes to play in the half.
The score would stand going into the locker room at halftime, with the Wildcats up big, 28-6.
Littlefield got the ball to open the second half, but on third and long, Green was picked off by Jayden Gonzales, looking for Omar Martinez with 10:58 to play in the third.
Brownfield took over at the Littlefield 38-yard line, but on first down, Jesus Martinez pitched the ball to George Rivera, who took off to his right, before pulling up to throw, however the pass was picked off by Gabe Montalvo, who returned it to his own 43-yard line with 10:45 to play in the quarter.
Littlefield could not capitalize on the turnover, as they went threeand- out, but elected to go for it on fourth down at midfield, and Green was stopped short of the sticks for a turnover on downs with 9:25 remaining in the quarter.
Brownfield took over at their own 48-yard line, as Jordan Stell broke loose up the middle, taking the ball down to the Littlefield 35yard line for a fresh set of downs for the Cubs. He carried the ball again on first down, but this time he was tackled by Sir Pratt for a one-yard loss. However, on the next play Jesus Martinez dropped back and hit Jojo Carillo for the 36-yard touchdown pass. The PAT by Landon Garcia was good, making the score, 28-13, with 8:48 to play in the third quarter.
The kick-off was fielded by Omar Martinez who weaved his way through the coverage team for a huge return down to the Cubs’ 39-yard line.
The Wildcat offense came on to the field, but on first down, Green was sacked by the Cubs for an eight-yard loss. Green kept it himself on second down, picking up just a yard, but on the next play, he hit Josiah Garcia with a pass and the Cubs were flagged for a 15-yard penalty, giving Littlefield an automatic first down at the 33yard line.
Green scrambled for a first down, taking the ball down to the 20-yard line and McNeese followed it up with a run up the middle to set up first and goal from the eight-yard line. On the next play, Green kept it himself, taking it around the left side for the eightyard touchdown. The PAT was good from Salazar, making the score, 35-13, with 6:42 remaining in the quarter.
Brownfield took over after Carrillo was tackled deep in his own territory on the kick-off by Montalvo. The drive stalled out, but a bad snap in on the punt, forced Busby to take off and run and he was tackled in the endzone, but the Wildcats were flagged for a facemask penalty, giving the Cubs new life.
The Cubs would march 78 yards down the field, but on fourth and goal from the five-yard line, Jesus Martinez was picked off in the endzone by McNeese, who returned it 102 yards down the Brownfield sideline for the picksix with 3:29 to play in the third. The PAT was good, making the score, 42-13.
Ian Mendez punched in a oneyard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to add on to the Wildcats’ lead, as they throttled the Cubs on the road, 49-13.
Offensively, Green finished the game 12-21 passing for 128 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also had 23 carries for 146 yards and a score on the ground.
In the running game, McNeese tallied eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, while Mendez added 15 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and Hill finished with one carry for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Martinez tallied five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Randle hauled in four catches for 50 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Diego Ramirez, who had eight total tackles and three sacks, while Angel Salazar tallied eight total tackles and Jeremiah Trevino chipped in seven tackles and one sack. McNeese tallied seven tackles and a 102-yard pick-six, while Gabe Montalvo contributed four tackles and an interception.
Noah Lopez added four tackles and a sack, while Hill finished with five tackles and a sack.
The Wildcats will open district play next Friday at home against Coahoma.
Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.